Baby bath



March 29, 1949. E. E. MERRETT BABY BATH 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1 9 4s 7 Z 31 v WY g March 29, 1949. E. E. MERRETT 2,465,909

BABY BATH Filed April 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 29, 1949 BABY BATH Earle E. Merrett, Manitowoc, Wis., assignor to Hamilton Manufacturing Company,

Manitowoc, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 16, 1945, Serial No. 588,459

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in portable bathing devices and particularly to improvements in infants bathtubs and dressing tables which may be folded for storage.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide improvements in bathtubs of the type mentioned which may be firmly and safely mounted for use on conventional stationary bathtubs of various types, and which when folded for storage, require a comparatively small amount of room.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in infants bathtubs of the type mentioned which are so constructed that when mounted for use, a woman when standing beside the tub, can Work comfortably in bathing or dressing the infant.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in infants bathtubs of the type mentioned, which are light and compact yet rugged and economical to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an infants bathtub embodying features of the present invention and showing such tub mounted on one type of stationary bathtub;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the construction of the present invention mounted on another type of stationary bathtub;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view showing the opposite end of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, broken, end elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a separated perspective view showing the extensible arm construction.

The infants bathtub of the present invention is generally indicated at I and is shown in Fig. 1 as mounted on one conventional type of a stationary tub 2. Such tub 2 has a front wall terminating in an upper edge 3 and a rear wall terminating in an upper edge 4 adjacent the bathroom wall 5. In this type of tub the edge 4 is of sufficient width to serve as a support for extensible arms mounted on the infants tub rigidly connected together.

I so that the infant's tub may be mounted as shown in Fig. 1. This will be described in detail hereinafter.

In Fig. 2 the infants tub I is shown mounted on another conventional type of stationary tub 6. Such tub 6 has a front wall terminating in an upper edge 1, which is the same as the edge 3 in the type shown in Fig. 1; but the upper edge of the rear wall indicated at 8 is flush with the bathroom Wall 5 so that it cannot be used to support the infants tub. This will be described in detail hereinafter.

The construction of the infants tub I is such that it may be adapted for use with any of the conventional stationary bathroom tubs. The tub I includes a rectangular, rigid frame having front and rear frame members 9 and end frame members It! and I! connected thereto. The frame l0 has the usual flexible, rubberized fabric tub l2 mounted thereon; and such tub I2 has a drain opening with a drain hose l3 connected thereto so that the bath Water may be drained directly into the stationary tub on which it is mounted.

Depending legs l4 and I5 are hingedly connected to the end members l0 and II adjacent the forward edge 9 by means of hinges It so that the legs may fold inwardly of theframe. Depending legs I1 and I8 are also hingedly connected to the end frame members Ill and H adjacent the rear frame member so that they may be folded inwardly of the frame together with the front legs. Legs I 4 and Il are rigidly connected together and legs l5 and I8 are also Legs 11 and I8 have pivotally connected thereto one end of a folding brace IS, the opposite end of each folding brace being pivotally connected to the rear frame member. The object of the foldable brace I9 is, of course, to hold all of the legs in their depending position and prevent collapse thereof. A slidable sleeve 2% may be mounted on one of the links of the brace l9 and positioned to slide over the pivot connection between the two links so as to prevent their accidental collapse.

The legs l4 and I! are connected together by means of a pair of vertically spaced, rigid cross members 2i and 22 which provide a track or guideway 23 therebetween. Such members 21 and 22 are located adjacent the lower ends of legs l4 and H but the under side of member 21 is spaced upwardly from the ends of the legs. Similar cross members 24 and 25 rigidly connect the legs l4 and H, with a space 26 therebetween, adjacent the upper ends of the legs l4 block 38 such as by a screw 48.

shaped clamp II, which is preferably formed of and I1. The space 26 provides a guide or trackway similar to trackway 23.

Legs I5 and I8 are similarly connected by cross members 21 and 28, which correspond in position to members 2| and 22; and cross members 29 and 30 which correspond in position to cross members 24 and 25. These members form guides or trackways 3| and 32 which correspond in position to trackways 2 3 and 26, respectively.

Each of the lower members 2| and 21 is formed with a plurality of spaced screw holes 33 in the under surface thereof and a bracket 34 is fixed to the under surface of each of the members 2| and 21, by screws or the like. Each of the brackets 24 has a rubber bumper 35 mounted on the front vertical face thereof. It will thus be seen that the brackets 34 are mounted to the under surfaces of cross members 2| and 21' a distance spaced. from the inner faces of legs. I4 and I5 corresponding substantially to the width of the front wall of the tub. The bumper 3 5, bracket 34, the rear faces of legs I4 and I5 and those portions of members 2| and 21 between the brackets and the front legs thus form hooks or clamps which are adapted tobe engaged over the front wall of the tub and rest on the upper edge 3, or I, thereof as shown in Figs.

such a length that the working surface of the tub I is a convenient height above the floor.

It is pointed out that the construction is preferably such that the front side of the top frame substantially overhangs the front legs so that there is a comfortable working space between the front of the infants tub and the front wall of the stationary tub.

In order to securely mount the infants tub I on the stationary tub, extensible arms are provided which may be used either with the type of stationary tub shown in Fig. l, or the type shown in Fig. 2. Referring to the type shown in Figs. 2 and 5, extensible arms 36 and 31 are provided, one adapted to be slidably or extensively mounted to each end of the tub I. Each of the arms 36 or 31 has a block 38 fixed, such as by nailing and gluing, to the inner face thereof and adjacent the inner end thereof. The blocks 38 are adapted to be received within the guidways 26 and 32, in this illustration, so that the upper and lower surfaces of the block may bear against the sides of the trackway. A Washer 39, wider than the trackway is fixed to the inside face of A resilient, U-

a sheet metal stamping, is mounted on each of legs I! and I8 adjacent the ends oftrackway's 2 8{and 32 so that the arms 36 and 3'! are slidably received therein, as best shown in Fig. 6. Each clamp' 4| may be mounted to the legs. I 1 and I8 by 441 ab a ns e a 5;. The arm are hel in this position by the clamps II and it will thus be seen that the tub I is held against tipping and is safely and rigidly held in its proper position on the stationary bathroom tub.

When the tub I is to be mounted on a stationary bathroom tub of the type shown in Fig. l, the clamps ll together with the thumb screw mountingstherefor arev positioned on legs I? and I8 adjacent trackways 23 and 3|, as indicated by the broken line in Fig. 5. The arms 38 and 31 are slidably disposed within trackways 23 and 3|, respectively, and are mounted therein similar to the mounting in the upper trackways described above. A depending, resilient bumper as is fixed to the under side of each of the arms 38 and 31, and such bumpers are adapted to rest upon the edge 4 as shown in Fig. 1.

In all of the embodiments above described, it will thus be seen that the front side of the tub I is firmly supported on the front wall of the stationary tub and the tub is firmly held in such position at both ends thereof by the arms 36 and 3?, eitherlocated in the upper trackways as shown in Fig. 2 or in the lower trackways as shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of infants tub here shown, a removable, dressing table t! is pivotally mounted to the top frame. Such table includes a rectangular frame having a canvas, or the like, sheet stretched thereover and secured thereto to provide a dressing table for the infant. The top 41 is pivotally connected to the top frame adjacent the rear side by short links 48 and long links 49 so that it may be raised, as shown by broken lines to an out-of-the-way position.

It will be evident from the above description that when not in use, the legs of the tub may be folded inwardly so that the tube presents a com.-

4 pact and relatively small article which can'be me f Ma 9 5 hich ex en s. erthro g an jw i ha a humb nu 43 h ad- .ab y rece ed ba ut re he of ar a ainst dj c nt fate o he. mp 41' Th lower leg of the clamp 4| is" preferably shorter bumpers 44 mounted stored conveniently.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed, without departing from the substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is, claimed is:

1. In an infants bathin device, a rigid rectangular frame having front and rear sides and a flexible bath tub mounted thereon, leg structure for supporting said frame including depending legs located adjacent the corners of the frame and adapted to support said device on a iioor, hinge means connecting said leg structure to said frame for folding inwardly thereof, laterally extensible members, vertically spaced rigid members interconnectin the front and rear legs at each end of'the frame, and providing'yertically spaced guideways for said extensible members, a bracket member secured to the lowermost of each of said rigid members adjacent the front legs of said leg structure so as'tfo form with each of said rigid membersanabutment constructed to engage over the upper edge and the inside face of the front wallof a stationary bathtub, said laterally extensible members being selectively and movably positi ned in oneof said vertically spaced guideways at'eachjend of said deviceand adapted to be extended beyond the rearside of said frame for selective'engagement with a member fixed with respect to the-bath tuber the rear wall of said bath tubyand'means to hold said laterally extensible members in a pre-determined extended position whereby the bathing device may be .eit er's p qr ednn qor 'ne or s pported 1 1a in stationary bath tub Without danger of collapsing "or tipping; in either position.

2. In an infants bathing device, a rectangular frame having front and rear sides, a support for said frame including depending legs located adjacent the corners of said frame and adapted to support said device on a floor, laterally extensible members, a rigid member inter-connecting the front and rear legs at each end of the frame and providing a laterally extending guideway for each of said extensible members, a depending bracket member adjustably secured to the under side of each of said rigid members adjacent the front legs of said support to form with each of said rigid members abutments constructed to engage over the upper edge and the inside face of the front wall of a stationary bath tub, means movably connecting said laterally extensible members in said guidewa-ys so that said extensible members may be extended beyond the rear side L of said frame for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the bath tub or the back wall of the bath tub, and a clamping device for 6 holding said members in a pre-determined extended position relative to said frame support, whereby said bathin device may be selectively set on a loor or on a stationary bath tub without fear of tipping or collapsing in either position.

EARLE E. MERRETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 906,992 Bailey Dec. 15, 1908' 982,626 Netschert Jan. 24, 1911 1,399,444 Jefis Sept. 13, 1921 1,451,285 Ward Apr. 10, 1923 1,513,440 Wirt Oct. 28, 1924 1,808,376 Polacek et al June 2, 1931 1,883,669 Feldman Oct. 18, 1932 2,096,395 Galt Oct. 19, 1937 2,150,483 Bentz Mar. 14, 1939 

